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Asrina: Interactive culturally relevant health education

Project by

Amy Ahearn & Anabelle Sutcliffe

Project Year

2013

Asrina (meaning “to smile” in Quechua) is a learning program designed to help Peruvian parents interactively navigate decisions affecting children’s health. As sodas and processed foods become increasingly prevalent in developing countries, children are more vulnerable to cavities and oral pain. Yet most health education in the developing world is lecture-based and has proven unsuccessful at changing long-term habits. Asrina changes this model by introducing interactive, culturally relevant scenarios paired with mobile technology to encourage conversation and feedback between learners. It promotes decision-making in the best interest of children’s health in the world’s most underserved communities.

Perspectives

Dan Schwartz
Professor of Education

"One of the great joys of the LDT program is the sheer diversity of experiences and interests that LDT students bring to classes and conversations. Some students come to build on their experience in various segments of industry, medicine, and education, whereas other students just come because they want to find out if there is a career trajectory that involves using technology to help people".